SOUTH BERWICK — The Kennebunk girls soccer team surprised a lot of people on Tuesday when the Rams knocked off two- time defending state champion Windham in the Class A South quarterfinals. On Friday afternoon, the ninth- seeded Rams had an opportunity to advance to the regional finals if they could pull off another upset – this time against the No. 5 Marshwood Hawks.

Unfortunately for the Rams, the host Hawks made sure that didn’t happen as Marin Smith completed a hat trick to lead Marshwood to a 4- 1 win over Kennebunk in the Class A South semifinals.

“I think we came out a bit tentative,” said Kennebunk coach John Dolan. “We were really playing against two teams. Marshwood, they put us under a lot of pressure right from the start, and I think the biggest obstacle that we faced was our own reflection in the first 10 or 15 minutes.”

The Hawks would strike first just over nine minutes into the game when Smith scored her first goal to make it 1-0.

“In many ways falling behind 1-0 really kind of woke the girls up. They seemed to play much better for the next 25 minutes or so. The second goal from Marshwood was a really nice shot and you have to tip your hat to (Molly Ferguson),” said Dolan.

That second goal – from Ferguson – came with just 5:29 remaining in the opening half and put the Rams in a 2-0 hole heading into the break.

The Rams’ hopes of a second-half comeback took a hit early on as Smith scored just 33 seconds into the second period.

“The second half, we talked about settling things down and trying to possess the ball better, but they came out and scored quickly,” said Dolan, who knew the Hawks would present a challenge. “We knew they were dangerous from set pieces. That’s how they dispatched Sanford (in the quarterfinals), was three goals on set pieces, and we didn’t do a good job defending.”

The Rams finally got on the board with just under 30 minutes remaining when Sarah Thill scored off a corner kick to cut the Hawks’ lead to 3-1.

“Once we put that first goal in I thought we had the momentum, but we could not find – despite several good chances – that second goal to really turn things,” said Dolan, who still thought his team had a chance. “I didn’t feel like we were out of the game until they put that fourth goal in.”

The fourth Marshwood goal – once again from Smith – would come at the 17:55 mark and would put the game out of reach.

“It was a game where I never really felt like we were out of the game, nor did I feel like we were necessarily in the game,” said Dolan, who gave credit to the Hawks. “They were the better team for bigger parts of the match and it shows in the scoreline and in who is going to be playing next week.”

Despite the semifinal loss, Dolan was thrilled with his team’s season – especially down the stretch.

“I’m incredibly proud of the girls for what they have been able to accomplish this year,” said Dolan. “As I told them at the end of the game, if anybody had said that Kennebunk would have been playing in the Class A semifinals, just from looking at our record, they would be growing their nose like Pinocchio. No one really would of thought that other than the 20 girls on the varsity squad, my assistant coach and myself.”

Although the Rams entered the postseason with a record that was below .500, Dolan had confidence in his team.

“I knew those girls had a run like that in them,” said Dolan, who told his team to be proud of their effort. “They can walk off the field today with the sting of the loss very fresh and clear in their mind, but also with a real sense of pride and accomplishment for what they were able to do in the playoffs this year and that’s something to build on.”

Dolan gave credit to his senior class – Kyra Schwartzman, Kelly Molloy, Joelle Krause, Molly Parent and Gabby Harrison – for turning the program into a playoff team.

“The seniors, who are a real special group to me, have been instrumental in bringing the program to where it is right now in terms of results and more importantly in culture and expectations moving forward,” said Dolan. “Kyra, Kelly, Joelle, Molly and Gabby have really put in the effort, put in the work and helped lead this program to where it is. I couldn’t be more conflicted in how sad I am for them to not be playing next week, but at the same time, I’m so incredibly proud for what they have accomplished.”

— Sports Editor Pat McDonald can be reached at [email protected] or at 282-1535 ext. 322. Follow the Journal Tribune Sports Department on Twitter @ JournalTsports.